Joseph block



Sept. 6, 1932. J. BLOCK ILLUMINATED DEVICE Filed June 8, 1931 QOQQQQ &

67 7 INVENTOR. W flw 41. W

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1932 (PATENT OF ER.

JOSEPH BLOCK, on BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ILnUMInArnnnEvIcn r Application iiledil'une s, 1931.. \seriai No. 542,795.

This invention relates to illuminated devices such as signs, display devices and the like articles. v

' An object of this invention is to provide a 6 sign or display device of the character described, having a plurality of miniature low voltage electric lamps connected in series circuit, and being further provided with'means whereby, when one or more of the lamps becomes inoperative, for example, upon breaking of'the filaments, the remaining lamps in theseries circuit will remain lighted, rendering it unnecessary toreplac e'thedefective lamp immediately upon'its becoming defective,in order to continue the illumination of the sign.

A further object of this in'vention'is to providea sign or display device of thecharacter described having'replaceable sign or display 29 elements and means for producing-highly attractive and-novel visual effects. i I

Still another object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and ruggedfl illumi nated device of the character described which shall comprise few and simple parts, easy to assemble, relatively inexpensive to manufac ture, highly attractive in appearance and yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use. Other objects of thisinvention will in part be obvious and. in part hereinafter pointed out. The invention accordingly consists i in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified inthe construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the j 'foll'ow Y ing claims.

In the accompanying drawing, infwhich is shown one of the various possible illust ative embodiments of this invention. 7 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illuminated display device embodying this invention; f

Fig. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the device shown in Fig.1, v I

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View of one of the lamps andits socket; i 0 Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram illustrating the electrical connection for the display device;

Fig. 5 is'a perspective view of a sign embodyin'g a modified construction; and I Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the sign shown in Fig.5. i Referring'now in detail to the drawing, I6 10 designates an illuminated device embodying the invention, here shown inthe form of an electric sign or' 'display device. The sign 10 comprises a base or frame 11 made of wood, bakelite or the like insulating ma- 00 terial, provided with a plurality of parallel spaced'longitudinal grooves 12 and 1'3'forming a rear wall 15, a front wall 16 and an intermediate wall 17 The bottom walls 120 I and 13a of the grooves 12 and 13' arepreferablycu'rved to provide light-reflectingsunfaces for the purpose hereinafter described. The bottom wall of each of said grooves -12 and 13 is provided with a plurality ofspac'ed parallel vertical bores oro penings 19 and20 '70 and forced into said openings 19 and20 are rows of spun screw shells 21 and21w for re ceivingminiaturelow voltagelamps and preferably having an outwardly flared rimportion 22 formed with a serrated edge 23 engaging "Iii the wall of said openings. "Shells 21 are preferably connected by suitable wiring in series circuit, and the shells 21earelike'wise'connected'" in series circuit, there "preferably being eight shells 21 and eight shells/21a.

The series connected shells .21, however, are connected in parallel circuit to the shells 21a. The wiringfor the shellsjmay be disposed .within grooves 19a and 20a, formed in the rear surfaces 25 of the base 11. The wires 35 26 leading fromthe parallel connected rows of shells may extend through the ba se ll in the form of; duplex cable, to the outer end of which is connected, a suitable electric attachment member 27, whereby the sign may be connected to any suitable source of electric power. -'The grooves 19a and 20a are preferably filled with pitch or the like sealing material which hardens on cooling, forrendering the sign water-proofand to prevent short circuiting. v

Removably mounted within a vertical groove 28 formed in said wall'15 is an upstanding plate or panel 29 preferably in'the form of sheet metal having any suitable color. Removably mounted within a groove 30 formed in the intermediate wall 17, is a second plate or panel 31 likewise preferably made of colored sheet metal and formed with cut-out portions 32 having the configuration of the sign, display or ornamental elements to be seen in illumination.

Each of the shells 21 and 21a is adapted to receive the base 33 of a miniature low voltage lamp 34 preferably having a colored bulb of any suitable color. It will now be seen that when the fitting 27 is connected to a source of electric power, the lamps 34 will illuminate the front surface of the plates 29 and 31. Preferably said plates 29 and 31 are of contrasting colors so that upon looking at the sign from the front, the front surface of the rear plate 29 will be seen through the cut-out portions 32 in the front plate. Since the front surface of the sheet 01"?1311029 is illuminated by the lamps, highly attractive visualcffects may be obtained. The sign ele ments having the configurations of cut-out portions 32 will thus be seen, in illumination, the front plate 31 providing the background.

A rod 40 made of glassor any other suit- ,able translucent or transparentmaterial may be mounted in a suitable groove 41, formed at the upper end of the wall 16, said rod serving as a lens for distorting the apparent shape of the bulbs of the lamps 34 in the front row. The tube 40 serves to elongate the apparent circular shape of the bulbs and further serves to soften the light from said bulbs to prevent glare.

In the ordinary electric sign or display device, having a plurality of lamps connected I I in parallel circuit, each lamp takes the full voltage of the supply circuit. Heretofo-re signs have been made with high voltage lamps connected in parallel circuit since, if the filae ments in one broke, the remaining lamps would not be affected.

A feature of this invention is the employment of series connected low voltage miniature lamps. These lamps which take a small voltage must necessarily be connectedin series circuit (usually in sets of eight) across the ordinary high voltage supply. The use of small voltage lamps has the advantage that they lend themselves to easy disposition and arrangement for providing ornamental designs or figures, and the particular construction of the lamp as hereinafter described, obviates the difliculty of the ordinary series connection where if one lamp becomes defective, the whole series become inoperative, so that if one or more of the lamps of the series becomes defective, the remaining lamps nevertheless continue to burn. Thus, in accordance with this invention, the sign 10 is provided with lamps 34 of a special constructionnow to be briefly described.

"Each lamp 34 has a shunt 45 across the filament 46 which shunt is non-conductive at the voltage of the lamp and becomes conductive when the full voltage of the series is impressed across the terminals of the shunt. Thus, normally each lamp taking a small voltage, current will pass through the filaments and will not pass through the shunt 45. However, should the filaments 46, in one of the lamps 34, break, the voltage of the entire series will be imposed on the shunt 45 of the defective lamp, which shunt will then automatically become conductive to permit the remainder of lamps in the series to remain illuminated.

' Preferably the shunt 45 comprises particles .of powder of metal or metal-oxidesdisposed between the inner tube 47 located in the lamp base, and the outer wall of the base 33. The central contact 48 to which one side of the filament is connected may be connected by a wire 49 to said tube 47. Theterminals for .the lamp therefore, being the outer wall of the base and the central contact are connected .across both the filament and the shunt 45.

It will now be seen that with applicants construction, even if one of the lamps be comes defective the sign as a whole, remains illuminated, thus rendering it unnecessary for immediately replacing the defective lamp.

example, by means of hooks 63 on a rod or like" support 64. i

Mounted within the frame 61 in any suitable manner is a central sheet or plate member 66 serving as a backing member for a pair of parallel sheet or plate members 67 having cut-out sign elements 68. The plates or sheet members 67 are preferably removably inserted within the frame through suitable slots 69 formed in the sides of said frame. The upper and lower portions of the frame 61 are preferably formed with inner elongated curved reflecting grooves 7 O aligned with the central plate or sheet 66. Rows of miniaturelamp socket members 71 may be embedded within suitable openings in the grooved frame portions70, said row of sockets preferably being in alignment with the edges of said central plate 66. Screwed to said socket 71 are the miniature lamps 34 preferably having small colored bulbs being of low voltage and provided with the shunts 45 across the filaments thereof. It will now be seen that the lamps 34 serve to throw light against the inner surfaces of the plate 67, the light being reflected to the backing plate whereby said backing plate serves as a background for the cutout portions 68 formed in the plates 67. The inner surfaces of plates 67 may be polished tobetter reflect the light to plate 66. It will now be clearly understood that the sign elements may be seen from both sides, and that the central rows of lamps serve to illuminate both sides of central backing plate.

port in the usual manner and the plate 67 may be removed and replaced. The sign all except the plate 67, may'thus be made up and kept as regular stock, for receivingthe plates 6'? bearing any suitable sign elements as required from time to time. Obviously the sockets 71 may be wired in series circuit as for example, as shown in Fig. 4. The vertical sides of the frame 61 may likewise be provided with rows of lamps to add to the illumination, the plate 66 being supported within the frame in any suitable manner to permit such construction.

The base 11 and the frame 61 may be replaced by metal frames and each screw threaded lamp socket may be housed in an insulating housing which in turn may be attached to said metal frame in any suitable manner.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, and it is to be under stood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be on said member, and miniature low voltage lamps attached to said sockets for 1llum1nat-' ing said display element, and a shunt for each lamp connected across the filament thereof, said shunts being non-conductive at the voltage of one lamp whereby each lamp receives the full line current and adapted to become automatically conductive at the voltage of the series of lamps whereby upon breaking of the filament of one of said lamps, .a the remaining lamps may continue to illuminate said display element.

2. An illuminated display device comprising a member, display elements mounted thereon, a row of lamp sockets mounted within said base member adjacent said display elements, said sockets being connected in series circuit, and miniature low voltage lamps attached to said sockets for illuminating said display elements, each lamp being provided with a shunt across the filament Fur- I thermore, the sign 60 may be hung on a supthereof, said shu nts being non-conductive at the voltage of the lamp and conductive at the voltage of the series. 1

3. A display device comprising an elongated member, a pair of parallel sheet mem- 7 bers attached to said elongated member, a

row of lamps'mounted on said elongated member and between said parallel members, one of said sheet members being formed with cut out portions, and a second row of lamps .mounted on said elongated member in front of the sheet member havingcut out portions formed therein said other-sheet member serving as a. background for the cut out portions of said first sheet member.

; [4. A display device comprising an elongated member, a pair of parallel sheet members attached to said elongated member, a

.row of lamps mounted on said elongated member and between said parallel members, one of said sheet members being formed with cut portions, a second row of lamps mounted on said elongated member in front of the sheet member having cut out portions formed therein, said other sheet member serving as a background for the out out portions of said first sheet member, and an elongated lens member mounted on said elongated 'member and partially covering said last named row of lamps.

5. A display device comprising a member having an elongated groove therein, a row of low voltage miniature series connected lamps mounted in said groove, a pair of sheet members mounted on said first member on opposite sides of said groove, one of said sheet members being formedwith cut out portions, said lamps each having a shunt across the filament thereof, non-conductive at the low voltage of one of the lamps and adapted to automatically become conductive at the voltage of the series of lamps.

6. A sign comprising a frame member, a plurality of minature lamp sockets mounted thereon and connected in series circuit, low voltage miniature lamps having colored bulbs attached to said sockets, a pair of members having opposed inner surfaces mounted on said frame member,one of said members being in such position that said inner surface thereof receives the light from said lamps, the other of said pair of members having cut out portions therein and being removable from said frame member.

I 7. A display device comprising a member provided with a plurality of sockets fixed thereto-and wired in series circuit, each adapted to receive the base of a miniature low voltage lamp, a display element on said device,

miniature low voltage lamps attached to said maininglamps to takethe current, wherebythe lamps may normally receive the full current for giving maximum illumination to the display element, and the display element remaining illuminated upon breaking of the fil- 5 aments of one or more of the lamps.

8. A display device comprising an elongated member'provided with a'groove, a plurality of miniature lamp sockets mounted Within said groove, a sheet member attached w to said elongated member adjacent said groove and having display elements thereon, low voltage miniature lamps attached to said sockets and an elongated lens member mounted on said elongated member and covering 15 a portion of said row of lamps.

- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH BLOCK. 

